A drone with glasses or controlled by a smartphone?

2019-01-15

With the rapid development of technology and the increasing availability of unmanned aerial vehicles, we, as drone hobbyists and users, have a growing range of equipment to choose from. Starting from the one with specifications more like a toy for first attempts at flying, to professional drones on which we have the possibility of installing expensive filming equipment.

Ways to control a drone

Few novice drone users consider before buying their first unmanned flying vehicle, what its actual purpose will be and how to choose how to control the drone to best meet our expectations. Traditionally, we start learning to fly a drone by familiarizing ourselves with the remote control transmitter, so that we can efficiently steer our flying craft. Normally, such a device is equipped with two sticks-the right one being the height control and the left one used to regulate power or, in other words, "gas". In addition, such a remote control also has so-called "trimmers" - controls that allow you to set the range of each control channel. This means that before the first flight we need to set, for example, the default power range, aileron pitch, which may not be such a trivial task. In the case of drones controlled by a dedicated remote control, another problem arises- the integrity of the human with the machine. Here we mean the difficulty of control caused by visibility- controlling the drone from the ground level will never see exactly the approaching threats, also the precision of control will leave a little to be desired.

Smartphone-controlled drones

As a response to such user problems, manufacturers have come up with two solutions-smartphone-controlled drones and drones with FPV goggles. First, let's briefly discuss the first of these. Unmanned aerial vehicles controlled by apps installed on a smartphone can be an ideal product for those beginning their adventure in flying. In this way, we can accurately plot the flight path of our drone, collect information on its location and, with the help of GPS technology, pinpoint its position in case of an accident. Here some of the responsibilities are taken off our shoulders by technology that simplifies the entire control process - it allows us to memorize settings and use the default ones recommended by the manufacturer. So what can be pointed out as a disadvantage of this solution? First and foremost, we will certainly not learn how to steer a drone independently, and we will not develop the right habits that will enable us to fly smoothly even after switching to new equipment.

FPV goggles- unique flight every time

A markedly different approach to the subject of drone control is the use of fPV goggles. A drone with goggles is an option for anyone wishing to brush up on their aerial skills and get the best possible feel for the machine and develop habits that will be helpful when controlling more expensive, professional equipment. FPV goggles allow us to observe the flight of the drone from a first-person perspective that is, in a way, we see what our craft "sees". Our suggestions for those who would like to experience flying just from this perspective are:

DJI Goggle FPV - equipment specifically tailored for drones from currently the most popular manufacturer- DJI. The goggle housing features two high-quality FullHD screens, which facilitate accurate control of the drone thanks to low latency. The FPV goggles provide a connection to the flying craft, which is maintained even at 360°, so also when the drone is behind your back. Additional features of the DJI Goggles are: Head Tracking flight and Head Tracking Gimbal, the first of which allows you to control your flying equipment with gentle tilts of your head. The other allows you to tilt the gimbal in an identical way to get the best shots. DJI Goggle FPV works best with Mavic Pro models and Phantom Pro V2.

However, if you are interested in a drone with glasses, but have invested time in building your own drone, it is worth considering DJI Goggles Racing. As the name suggests, these goggles were designed with drone racing in mind. Their appearance is more aggressive- they are almost uniformly black with red accents present. However, what makes it different from the basic model? Certainly it is the speed of image transmission, with a latency of only 50ms. In addition, the equipment has the ability to send and select a signal in the range of 2.4 GHz- 5.8 GHz. This means that when the signal is lost, the installed OcuSync module will switch the channel as soon as possible so as to maintain the constancy of transmission. Most importantly,DJI Goggles Racing allows you to connect not only with the manufacturer's dedicated drones, but also with third-party ships and even other vehicles or robots.

When deciding whether to buy your first or next drone, it's also worth considering purely functional aspects, such as the very controls we focused on in this post. If you are an amateur and flying a drone is a way for you to relax, you can confidently opt for a smartphone-controlled drone. On the other hand, if you are thinking about developing your piloting skills or looking for a new experience, we can confidently recommend you to invest in a drone with goggles.

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